About
This online retreat was recorded live April 30, 2023, hosted by The Contemplative Society. This purchase includes video recordings from a one-day contemplative retreat divided into two sessions totalling approximately 3.5 hours. In this retreat, James Finley invites us to explore the mysticism of Thomas Merton and its profound relevance for our spiritual lives today. Through Merton’s teachings, we are reminded that the monastery of the heart is ever-present—an interior space where we awaken to our divine indwelling and learn to live from our deepest ground of being. With characteristic warmth and insight, James reflects on Merton’s invitation to embody the contemplative path in the midst of ordinary life, offering wisdom for navigating the human journey with faith, tenderness, and courage. The morning session, facilitated by TCS board members and long-time contemplatives Heather Ruce and Carol Hekman, includes guided contemplative practices, reflection, and discussion on key themes from James Finley’s Turning to the Mystics podcast series on Thomas Merton. In the afternoon session, James offers a live talk and dialogue exploring Merton’s mystical vision and its enduring call to awaken to our true self in God. As this is a LIVE recording you may notice some audio variability and background noise. James Finley, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, contemplative teacher, and former Trappist monk who studied under Thomas Merton at the Abbey of Gethsemani. He serves as core faculty at the Center for Action and Contemplation, hosts the podcast Turning to the Mystics, and is the author of Merton’s Palace of Nowhere and The Contemplative Heart. Cover Image: "Thomas Merton hermitage (Abbey of Gethsemani)" by Bryan Sherwood, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License